Sometimes, you just have to choose to keep going…
Wow. Time really does fly. This April marks two consecutive years since starting The Mamasaur as little more than a necessary creative outlet. Having motherhood be my sole identity and fulfillment source just wasn’t it for me. I wanted more. Now, here I am, writing my ONE HUNDRETH POST, and I know I’ve gotta just keep going.
It’s been fun, rewarding, even exciting at times, pouring myself into this blog. But it’s also been incredibly challenging, tiring, and has required commitment and sacrifice. Building a thing costs something. Especially early on, and it’s hard to keep going when you don’t see gradually compounding ROI.
I am proud of myself though. Proud of my husband. Proud of our family. We’ve grown so much together over this time. And I’ve found there are so many ways we’ve found success in our lives. Even if the traffic is slow and the hours are long.
Lean into the Pain
One quote that’s resonated with me lately is that of Ancient-Roman philosopher Seneca: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” Writing success doesn’t happen overnight. Business doesn’t peak in a day. Sometimes, most times, it can take years of grind before success is found.
It helps to keep going. The more you pour in over time, the more opportunity there is for something to resonate and for “luck” to strike. Difference between a single grapevine and a whole vineyard. The more you cultivate, the more potential harvest… Mmm, wine…
But, even then, monetary success isn’t a guarantee. If that’s your measure of achievement, then sure, keep going… But also, try to look at the bigger picture and redefine what ultimate success looks like.
Maybe I’m not making the big bucks for time invested, but my overall writing skill has improved. I’ve helped write a book. Then, I went on and wrote my own. I’ve consistently worked passionately toward creating something. Professional business relationships have been built. I’ve grown as a person, as a mother, and as a wife.
I’ve leaned into the pain of doing hard things for the sake of doing hard things. And I’ve maintained a growth mindset. Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” I have been successful at continually seeking ways to evolve and self-improve. I choose to keep going, even when it’s hard.
And I know that’s a lesson that my children will learn from watching me and Nathan. Keep going, keep going. Even when it’s hard. It’s never in vain to try hard things. Difficult does not mean bad, and trials are never wasted.
Celebrate Success
Anyway, this post is celebratory! Lots of BIG NEWS, some of which I’ve already mentioned:
1. This post is #100!
I’ve come a long way from my first post: From RN to SAHM to OMG. I’ve learned to find a bit more balance in how much content I create at what frequency. At least for this season. I’m proud of my consistency!
2. I’ve written my first book!
This is something that, early on, I doubted I’d be able to do. But, in choosing to keep going and try hard things, I did it!
It’s a fun, insightful guide to help you in Parenting Without Burnout. Trust me, I’m hardly an expert, and I don’t get everything right, but I’m confident in the helpful, actionable advice I share in my book. And, as a novella, it’s an easily digestible read.
You can get a free PDF version by signing up for our newsletter, or help support The Mamasaur by buying a copy using this link. I appreciate it!
3. Nathan has written his first novel!
And it was SO GOOD that I was actually kind of angry when it ended. Maybe I’m biased, sure, but I wanted the story to keep going. I wanted to read more. Fortunately, he’s getting straight to work on a sequel. Some of you may know of our other book, A Parent’s Guide to AI, a helpful toolbox for navigating an AI-filled future with our children. This recent book he wrote is completely different.
For starters, it’s fiction. An intriguing, slow-burn, sci-fi thriller/adventure geared toward young adult readers. I highly encourage you to go check it out. It’s very Treasure Island meets The Martian. If that strikes your fancy, you’ll love Sol’s Ladder.
And, of course, I mustn’t forget…
Our preschoolers are potty-trained!
I know I’ve written about this recently. It’s not really new news, per se, but STILL… After so much time and stress and shit… It’ll be a while till we stop celebrating potty progress.
Keep Going… Into the Future
We’ve achieved so much already, but there’s so much more to come.
I’m so excited to share more helpful guides in time, and have plans to release another one come Autumn 2025. Fingers crossed! Things have stalled a bit on our socials, but we’re going to pick back up soon to keep those active. And, along with that, we’re hoping to lean into video content again before too long. Bear with us!
As of September, in an effort to maintain a bit more work-life balance and help socialize our littles more, they’ll be enrolled part-time at a local, church-based, homeschool co-op. The hope is they’ll have fun and make new friends. We’ll have some uninterrupted WFH productivity to help us gain some more ground. Win-win!
And, perhaps most exciting of all of our impending plans, our current timeline for moving onto a liveaboard sailboat is the end of next year! It’s going to be here before we know it! For Nathan’s 40th birthday, I’m sending him on his happy way for a weekend getaway to get his first sailing courses and certifications complete.
We’re going to keep going. Step by step. Forward momentum everyday. As Pulitzer-Prize winning author Annie Dillard wrote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” We will keep going until our days and our lives reflect our deepest desires and aspirations.
Stick around for the adventure.